The Why: Philly Explained

The Boy Scouts of America are facing 800 new allegations of sex abuse, including 40 in Pennsylvania. Many of those allegations go back decades, but WHYY’s Nick Pugliese explains why the victims’ attorneys say they can still sue, despite the state’s short statute of limitations.

The creators of the Phillie Phanatic are threatening to sell the beloved mascot to another team — unless the Phillies renegotiate their licensing agreement and offer them more money. Philadelphia Inquirer reporter Oona Goodin-Smith explains why the team is suing the creators to keep that from happening. Do the Phillies have a case?

Ticketing for litter on sidewalks is the No. 1 code violation in Philadelphia. The city handed out about 20,000 tickets to property owners for that one offense last year — but half of them didn’t get paid. So why do it at all? Max Marin of WHYY’s Billy Penn breaks down which neighborhoods are hit the hardest.

Philadelphia is experiencing an outbreak of Hepatitis A with 154 cases reported as of Aug. 1. The reason? Too much poop on the streets in some neighborhoods. Jake Blumgart with WHYY’s PlanPhilly explains why that’s happening and how the city wants to fix the problem.

Camden has given out tax breaks to companies that have already gotten big ones from New Jersey just to move there or to stay put. Those deals have critics wondering if the city is catering to big corporations at the expense of its residents. WHYY’s Nick Pugliese explains why companies are off the tax hook while Camden’s deficit grows.

Philadelphia may be home to the nation’s biggest urban park, but an analysis from WHYY’s PlanPhilly revealed there’s a shortage of trees in some neighborhoods. And that has serious implications for residents as the planet heats up. Reporter Catalina Jaramillo explains why there’s a green divide and what the city is doing to fix it.

New Jersey dumps more than a million tons of plastic in landfills every year. Some towns have banned single-use plastic bags or straws — but is it possible to ditch plastic altogether? NJ.com reporters Erin Petenko and Michael Warren gave it a shot. They explain why it’s so hard to live plastic-free, and why it’s important to try anyway.

The search is on to identify two men in a series of photos from a gay wedding that were printed in a North Philly drugstore in 1957 — but never returned to their owners. Why didn’t these photos ever make it to the couple and what do they tell us about what life was like for Philly’s LGBTQ community in the 50s and 60s? Filmmaker P.J. Palmer is creating a documentary series based on his investigation. You can see the photos and share tips at ouronestory.com.

Why have blue lights been popping up around Philadelphia — even in some Starbucks bathrooms? Michaela Winberg, a reporter for WHYY’s Billy Penn, explains the city thinks the lights are one solution to the opioid crisis, while critics say they’re making it more dangerous.

Drexel University’s plan to build a new public school building on the edge of its campus is giving some West Philadelphia residents Déjà vu. Almost 20 years ago, nearby University of Pennsylvania also created a public school, Penn Alexander, that transformed the surrounding neighborhood in the process. WHYY education reporter Avi Wolfman-Arent explains why universities create public schools and what that can mean for local communities.